5 Ghanaian female artists to watch

1 Sep 2020 - 16:49

Ghana is constantly bubbling with an ever-growing list of gifted female acts staking their claim as successors to the country’s current pop pillars. Staples in the underground scene and live band circuit, these rising divas, with their highly progressive compositions and genre-bending styles, continue to consolidate the efforts of the current big names like Efya, Becca, Wendy Shay and Adina.

Lamisi, Gyakie, Cina Soul, Freda Rhymz and Amaarae.

Below are Music In Africa’s five Ghanaian female artists to watch, in no particular order.

Cina Soul

Cina Soul was born Christie Quincyna Quarcoopome and enjoys a healthy repute as the next queen of soul. A free-spirited songbird, her music transcends a single genre, for her songs retain elements of everything from highlife to neo-soul, pop and jazz. Her inspirations include Anita Baker, Brandy, Sade, Aretha Franklin, Asa and Whitney Houston. Cina Soul is the author of the 2016 album Metanoia. An eloquent submission that put the music scene on notice, the project featured M.anifest, Worlasi and KiDi. More music has followed, notably ‘Ojorley’ and ‘Killi Mi’. For this, she has been rewarded with a broader fanbase, a deal with Universal Music and an invitation to the big stages. Last year, for instance, she showcased at Music In Africa’s ACCES conference in Accra.

Gyakie

Gyakie is the daughter of highlife doyen Nana Acheampong. But the singer, born Jackeline Acheampong, is bent on charting her own path. 'Never Like This’, an ardent R&B number, registered her on the minds of Ghanaians. Not one to rest on her laurels, she recently dispatched her debut collection of songs – a five-song EP christened Seed. Unsurprisingly, the project is receiving steady success, with many lauding the 20-year-old’s serene vocals and bold experimentation.

Amaarae

A singer, songwriter, producer and engineer, Amaarae does it all. On the alternative scene, she has been a leading name for years. The 26-year-old Ama Serwah Genfi, as she’s privately known, possesses a vocal instrument of notable elegance. In April 2018, Amaarae was added to Apple Music Africa’s Favourite New Artist list. An excellent 2017 EP along with collaborations from Stonebwoy, FOKN Bois’ M3NSA and Wande Coal have solidified her place not just as a key contributor to sounds from these parts, but also a strong advocate for representation in society.

Freda Rhymz

Freda Baffour Awuah, better known in showbiz as Freda Rhymz, is a fearless young rapper who is demonstrating with her creative output that hip hop is not the preserve of her male counterparts. Her rap unravels in English, Twi and Pidgin, with an aura that casts her as one who will be a household name in the coming years. Though she's a hip hop practitioner first, Freda has been outstanding in other genres. 'Saucy', her latest single featuring Sista Afia, is a prime example.

Lamisi

Lamisi’s music shines with the beautiful heritage of Zebilla, the Ghanaian town that she hails from. Her golden voice can be appreciated as much in her lovely debut Brighter Side as in her regular live performances. Lamisi’s music goes everywhere from Afro-soul to pop. Starting her career as lead singer for the Patch Bay Band, the songstress has collaborated with Sarkodie, Samini, Patoranking and Rocky Dawuni, among others.